BRISTOL - The students of St. Matthew School in Forestville are participating in Operation Christmas Child for the second year in a row.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of the evangelical Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse.

Participants get to choose whether to buy small “stocking stuffer” gifts for a needy boy or girl and the age range, and package them in red and green “shoe boxes,” which get shipped off to another country. The organization’s website suggests a mix of fun and practical small items to buy.

Principal Helen Treacy said the whole school was involved.

“We started it last year with the hopes of providing 100 boxes; however, through the collaboration of parish and school we sent off 250 boxes and found that they landed in Rwanda last January,” she said.

The school, which ranges from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, finished this year’s packing party and prayer service last week and will get all the boxes blessed by Monsignor Thomas Ginty, she said. “We will be sending over 250 boxes this year and couldn’t be happier!”

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org.

Susan Corica can be reached at 860-973-1802 or scorica@bristolpress.com.